WHO Chief Tedros Confident in Future Pandemic Treaty Agreement

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed optimism on Monday about the eventual success of a global pandemic treaty, despite the recent failure to reach an agreement. Health officials have cautioned, however, that the finalization of such a treaty could take years.

Challenges in Negotiations

The negotiations have been fraught with challenges, including prolonged discussions, last-minute changes in positions, and mounting criticism from right-wing commentators who argue that the treaty could undermine national sovereignty—a claim the WHO firmly denies. Illustrative of the opposition was a truck seen near the U.N. headquarters in Geneva with a sign that read, “NO to the Pandemic Treaty. STOP the UN Power Grab.”

Ongoing Efforts and Frustrations

Ministers from the WHO’s 194 member states have been working for over two years on new regulations for pandemic response, aiming to conclude these talks during the May 27-June 1 World Health Assembly. However, negotiators did not manage to finalize a draft agreement in time for formal approval this week.

In his opening address, Tedros acknowledged the disappointment but remained hopeful. “We all wish we could have reached a consensus for this health assembly,” he said. “However, I remain confident that where there is a will, there is a way. There is still a common desire among you to get this done.”

Future Outlook

A senior U.S. administration official indicated that the United States remains committed to the process but expects negotiations to continue for another one to two years. “There is a lot of frustration,” she noted. Health diplomats are considering reforms to the negotiation process and may extend the timeline by five to twenty-four months.

Progress on Existing Health Rules

Meanwhile, negotiators are close to finalizing updates to existing health regulations on outbreaks, including a new tiered alert system. This comes after the WHO faced criticism for being too slow in declaring a COVID-19 emergency. Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown Law involved in the negotiations, described the outcome as a “shameful abdication of political leadership” but remained confident that the reforms would be approved this week. “They have enormous potential value for making the world safer and more equitable,” he told Reuters.